Vietnamese

Vietnamese Language Program at Harvard University

The Vietnamese Language Program at Harvard offers a four-year, proficiency-oriented curriculum designed to foster advanced communicative competence while cultivating a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s language, literature, culture, and society.

The program is grounded in task-based language teaching and informed by empirical research in second language acquisition. Instruction integrates real-world communicative tasks, multimodal resources, and authentic cultural materials across all levels. Attention is given to the diverse linguistic repertoires and learning trajectories of individual students, ensuring that instruction is responsive to both linguistic development and personal learning goals.

Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to apply their language skills in meaningful contexts through experiential learning opportunities. These include field trips and co-curricular activities that engage students with museums, libraries, restaurants, Vietnamese-speaking communities, and local Vietnamese-English bilingual schools.

Beginning in Fall 2025, the program will inaugurate dedicated first-year courses for heritage language learners. Designed for students who grew up speaking Vietnamese in the home or community, these courses provide structured instruction to strengthen reading, writing, and grammatical competence, while building on learners’ existing oral proficiency.

Curriculum Overview

Students enrolled in Vietnamese 120A and beyond can work toward a Vietnamese Citation, a great way to showcase their language skills. Courses at the 130A level and beyond also count toward Divisional Distribution requirements.

The program emphasizes full immersion in the classroom and encourages students to use Vietnamese actively and meaningfully. By integrating academic study with real-world application, the program prepares students to connect with Vietnam’s language and culture in ways that support their personal, professional, and intellectual goals.

Director:

Hoa Le
Senior Preceptor in Vietnamese
hle@fas.harvard.edu
9 Kirkland Pl. Room 205